BA (Hons) Sociology

Have you ever asked why the world is the way it is? Why are some people rich and others poor? Why do some groups face discrimination while others hold power? Why does where you grow up, what gender you are, or what race you belong to shape your opportunities in life? If these questions matter to you, sociology is the subject that tries to answer them.

Sociology is the study of society: how it is organised, how it changes, and how it shapes the people living in it. At University Centre Peterborough (UCP), the BA (Hons) Sociology will teach you to look beneath the surface of everyday life and understand the forces and structures that shape the world around us. The degree is validated by The Open University, and studied right here in Peterborough.

You do not need to have studied sociology before. Everything is introduced from the ground up, and your lecturers will guide you through the ideas at every stage. What you do need is curiosity: a genuine desire to understand people, communities, and the society we all share.

Studying at UCP means you learn in small groups, typically under 20 students, with lecturers who know you by name and are genuinely invested in your success. You will also carry out real research in and around Peterborough, building practical skills alongside your academic knowledge.

Who is it for?

This degree is for you if you want to understand the world more deeply and want to be able to change things for the better. Students come to this course from all directions: straight from sixth form or college, returning to education after time out, or changing direction in an existing career. UCP’s Sociology degree is designed to work for all of them.

If you have studied sociology at A-level, you will find the degree builds directly on those ideas and takes them much further. If you are coming to the subject fresh, that is equally fine as many of our students are, and the course is structured to bring everyone in at the same starting point.

We also welcome mature students balancing study with work or family life. Our flexible two-days-a-week timetable is built with that in mind, and if you hold an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or have relevant work or life experience, we encourage you to apply.

You might find yourself asking:

• Why do some communities thrive while others are left behind?
• How does the media shape what we think and believe?
• What causes crime, and is the justice system really fair?
• How is technology changing society, work, and our sense of who we are?
• What does it mean to fight for social change?
• How do class, gender, race and sexuality affect people’s life chances?

Sociology gives you the tools to think seriously about questions like these, and the confidence to speak up about them. Our students come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and that mix of perspectives is one of the things that makes the course so engaging.

What Will You Explore?

Sociology at UCP covers both the classic ideas that have shaped how we understand society and the big questions of today: from digital culture and artificial intelligence to climate change, activism, and inequality.

Key themes across the degree include:

You will also develop a range of transferable skills that employers value: critical thinking and problem-solving, gathering and analysing evidence, constructing clear arguments, communicating your ideas confidently in writing and in discussion, working with people from diverse backgrounds, and approaching complex real-world challenges with rigour and creativity.

What Is Covered?

The course has been fully revalidated for 2026-27 with a fresh set of modules that connect sociological thinking to real-world issues. Below is the full module structure.

Year One — Level 4 (Foundational)

The first year gives you a solid grounding in sociology's core ideas, methods and debates. You will learn how sociologists think about the world, explore the big historical and contemporary forces that shape society, and start developing your skills as an analyst and researcher.

Year Two — Level 5 (Development and Application)

In year two you go deeper, developing your research skills and beginning to specialise in the areas that interest you most. You choose optional modules each semester to build your own path through the degree.

Choose one optional module from Semester 2.

Year 2 total: 120 credits (60 mandatory + 60 optional)

Final Year — Level 6 (Mastery and specialism)

Your final year is where everything comes together. You will complete a major independent research project on a topic of your own choosing, and select specialist modules that reflect where you want to take your degree.

Choose three optional modules from Semester 1 and two from Semester 2.

Final year total: 120 credits (45 mandatory + 75 optional)

What Jobs Can Sociology Graduates Get?

Sociology is a genuinely versatile degree. The skills you build, critical thinking, research, communication, understanding people and communities, are valued across almost every employment sector. Sociology graduates work in government, charities, education, business, health, media and beyond.

Our alumni include social workers, community organisers, researchers, lecturers, and public sector professionals who have used their degree to build careers that make a real difference.

Postgraduate Pathways

Sociology is an excellent foundation for postgraduate study. The analytical and research skills you develop open doors to a wide range of Masters and PhD programmes. Routes our graduates have taken include: